The latest information about SwissGlaciers.org:
I 22.08.2025: Glaciers 2025
In 2025, we (Daniela & I) were able to visit and document the following glaciers:
- Blüemlisalp glacier, 7.9.
- Doldenhorn glacier, 7.9.
- Chaltwasser glacier, 8.8., from 2025: observations
As expected, the ridge between the two proglacial lakes has largely melted away since 2022. As a result, the level of the western lake has dropped by approximately 2 m, and the western lake is now 100% drained via the middle lake.
- Gamchi glacier, 31.8.
Today, our work at the Gamchi Glacier no longer focuses primarily on documenting the retreat of the glacier, but rather on the processes that take place in the years following the melting of the ice.
- Oberaar glacier, 18.7., from 2025: observations, panos
Severe signs of decay (caves, holes, crevasses) can be seen in the tongue area. Two collapse structures (approx. 250 m behind the glacier snout) are wide open, and a third is deep and actually funnel-shaped.
- Rhone glacier, from 2025: 22.6. and 11.7. from a distance, 10.7. on site, from 2025: location 16, observations
- Witenwasseren glacier, 5.8., from 2025: location 9, observations
As expected, the ridge between the two proglacial lakes has largely melted away since 2022. As a result, the level of the western lake has dropped by approximately 2 m, and the western lake is now 100% drained via the middle lake.
- Tiefen glacier, 12.8., from 2025: observations
- More glaciers: 11.7., 10.8., 7.9.
We will gradually publish the results and observations on this website.
Status: 8.9.2025
C 20.08.2025: Updated repeat photos of the Rhone Glacier (location 16)
These repeat photos show the Rhone Glacier and its snow cover from a distance. A photo taken on 17 August 2025 has been added.
The comparisons between the following days are interesting:
- 9 July 2022: Year with extremely high ice/mass loss.
- 10 July 2023: Year with high ice/mass loss.
- 11 July 2025: Current year with a very warm June and at least one heatwave.
- 10 August 2025: Current year after a rather cool July and another heatwave.
- 17 August2025: Current year after the end of the recent heatwave.
Note also how much thickness the ice of the Rhone Glacier has lost since July 2022.
C 13.08.2025: Updated repeat photos of the Rhone Glacier (location 16)
These repeat photos show the Rhone Glacier and its snow cover from a distance. A photo taken on 10 August 2025 has been added.
The comparisons between the following days are interesting:
- 9 July 2022: Year with extremely high ice/mass loss.
- 10 July 2023: Year with high ice/mass loss.
- 11 July 2025: Current year with a very warm June and at least one heatwave.
- 10 August 2025: Current year after a rather cool July and another heatwave.
C 20.07.2025: Updated comparison photos of the Rhone Glacier (location 16)
These repeat photos show the Rhone Glacier and its snow cover from a distance. A photo taken on 10 July 2025 has been added.
The comparisons between the following days are interesting:
- 9.7.2022: Year with extremely high ice/mass loss.
- 10.7.2023: Year with significant ice/mass loss.
- 11.7.2025: Current year with a very warm June and at least one heatwave.
I 18.07.2025: Glaciers 2024
In 2024, we (Daniela & I) were able to visit and document the following glaciers:
- Blüemlisalp glacier, 23.8., from 2024: location 1, Bütlassa, Fründehorn, observations
- Doldenhorn glacier, 23.8., from 2024: Whole glacier, Bergschrund, Tongue, observations
- Gamchi glacier, 18.7. and 7.9., from 2024: location 7, location 14, location 14a, location 15, location 21, location 22, location 23, middle erosion trench, observations 18.7. and 7.9.,
The Gamchi Glacier continues to evolve in the direction outlined in the story Gamchi Glacier: What next?. Today, we are no longer documenting the retreat of the Gamchi glacier, but the processes that take place in the years following the melting of the ice.
- Kanderfirn, 20.7., from 2024: location 1, location 5, location 8, location 11, observations
The path to the Kanderfirn leads up through the wild Gasteretal valley. From Heimritz onwards, the consequences of climate change are more massive than in any other mountain valley we regularly visit than in the Gasteretal. The permafrost is disappearing and heavy rain loosens and transports incredible masses of boulders, scree and sand to the valley floor. The mountain trail is therefore different every year.
- Oberaar glacier, 5.8., from 2024: location 4, location 5, location 7, location 8, location 14, observations
Strong signs of decay (caves, holes, crevasses) can be seen in the area of the tongue. One of the collapse structures (approx. 250m behind the glacier gate) has opened up.
- Rhone glacier, 29.7., from 2024: location 2, location 3, location 4, location 8, location 10, location 16, observations
Since the last visit on 7.7.2023, the Rhone Glacier has continued to lose length and mass. The portal created in summer/autumn 2022 is already history again. All that remains of the collapse structure is a 3-4m high wall of ice.
- Schwarzberg glacier, 27.8., from 2024: location 1, location 2, location 3, observations
- Tiefen glacier, 29.8., from 2024: location 3, location 5, location 6, location 7, location 9, observations
- Unteraar glacier, 25.7., from 2024: loaction 3, loaction 4, loaction 9, loaction 15, observations
For the first time in a long time (probably > 1000 years), the Triftbach flows past the front of the Unteraar glacier. The 150-200m wide area in front of the front has changed considerably since 24.6.2023. So has the drainage of the Unteraar glacier.
- More glaciers: 9.8. and 23.8.
We will gradually publish the results and observations on this website.
Status: 15.7.2025
C 20.06.2025: Updated repeat photos of the Rhone glacier (location 2)
The before/after photo comparison of the Rhonegletscher (location 2, Valais-/Uri Alps) was supplemented by a panorama photo from 29.7.2024. The comparison now includes 10 photos from 2008 to 2024 (= 16 years).
C 14.06.2025: New repeat photos of the Unteraar Glacier (location 15) added
The new repeat photos show the dynamics of a young glacier forefield. They now include two panoramic photos taken on 20 July 2021 and 25 July 2024 (= 3.02 years). This website now contains glacier repeat photos (before/after) taken from 185 points.
C 16.05.2025: Updated repeat photos from Kanderfirn (location 8)
The new repeat photos show the extent of the glacier melt of the last 6 years at the Kanderfirn at a glance. The tongue of the Kanderfirn ends at an altitude of 2360m. Nevertheless, it has lost mass and length massively in the last 6 years.
I 14.05.2025: Advanced functions: Meteo and climate data for glaciers
Several meteo/climate functions have been expanded to include the following points:
- Deviations from climate standard values
The deviations for precipitation, sunshine duration and global radiation are now also displayed in %.
- Availability of measurement data
It now shows how many % of the measured values are available for the calculations.
- Measured values precipitation
The precipitation measurements from around 15 measuring stations contained a relatively large number of gaps. Thanks to a change in the software, the precipitation measurements are now transmitted more reliably.
C 30.04.2025: Updated repeat photos from the Rhone glacier (location 8)
The updated comparison photos show the development of the tongue of the Rhone glacier. The photo point was covered by the Rhone glacier until 2017. The comparison photos show the changes from 2018 - 2024 = 6 years.
I 01.01.2025: New functionality: climate normals 1961-1990 and 1981-2010 in meteo/climate functions
All meteorological/climate functions now support the following climate standard values:
- Climate norm values 1961-1990 (new)
- Climate norm values 1981-2010 (new)
- Climate norm values 1991-2020 (so far)
I 18.12.2024: New function: meteorological and climate data for glaciers for each hydrological year
Monthly graphics are now available, in which the following parameters are displayed for each month of a hydrological year:
- temperature (mean/minimum/maximum),
- precipitation (daily total) and
- sunshine duration (daily total)
are shown.
The deviations from the climate norm values are displayed for the monthly and annual values.
I 04.12.2024: Mass balance of different glaciers
The mass balances of the glaciers mentioned below were updated with the data from winter/summer 2023/24.
Other glaciers with mass balance: